Agenda item

Part I Minutes – Policy and Organisation Board 30 November 2022

Consideration was given to the Part I recommendation of the Policy and Organisation Board.

At its meeting on 30 November 2022 the Policy and Organisation Board considered a report of the Borough Treasurer detailing the amended Fees and Charges. The recommendations are now presented to Full Council for approval.

An amendment was proposed to the report as follows:

To amend the Fees and Charges by deleting the £150 charge for an allotment key charge and replacing it with a figure of £50.

This was proposed by Councillor Chegwyn and seconded by Councillor Cully.

This was unanimously agreed.

The exploration of the proposal to allow Hackney Carriage Drivers access to Radar keys was welcome.

Some Members expressed concern that the increases to the car park permits were significant, and that this impacted on the wellbeing of residents. The freezing of the cost of permits for Town Centre residents was welcome.

It was recognised that the parking charges would contribute to the protection of essential services and that budgeting had not been undertaken previously for increasing costs such as inflation.

An amendment was proposed to the recommendation iii)  by Councillor Huggins, and seconded by Councillor Burgess as follows.

A recorded vote was taken on the proposal as follows:

FOR the AMENDMENT: Councillors Beavis, Burgess, Casey, Huggins, Jessop, Morgan, Scard

AGAINST the AMENDMENT: Councillors Ballard, M Bradley, Chegwyn, Cox, Cully, Durrant, Earle, Hylands, Johnston, Kelly, Marshall, Maynard, Pepper, Westerby, The Mayor.

This AMENDMENT was LOST

It was acknowledged that difficult decisions would need to be undertaken to protect Council services and that any increase in Council Tax was limited.

A named vote was taken on the substantive motion as follows.

FOR the recommendations: Councillors Ballard, M Bradley, Chegwyn, Cox, Cully, Durrant, Earle, Hylands, Johnston, Kelly, Marshall, Maynard, Pepper, Westerby, The Mayor.

AGAINST the recommendation: Councillors Beavis, Burgess, Casey, Huggins, Jessop, Morgan, Scard.

RESOLVED:

i)             The Council approve the fees and charges referred to in the report and appendix for implementation from 1 January 2023 or as soon as practically possible thereafter unless stated otherwise ( to include an amendment to deposit charge for allotment key)

ii)            The Council undertakes a further review of its fees and charges to identify areas where the council's fees and charges:

a.    Are at a level significant variance to the cost of providing the service

b.    Are significantly at variance other comparable charges 

iii)           where fees and charges are found to be significantly at variance to full cost

recovery and/or other comparative charges, the Borough Treasurer be given delegated authority in consultation with the Leader of the Council to amend charges either upwards or downwards accordingly to more comparable levels